Article handling and packaging machine

ABSTRACT

The disclosure relates to an article handling and packaging machine particularly adapted for use in supplying packaging clips such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,370,700 to pluralities of containers such as beer cans in order to assemble and connect pluralities of beer cans in unitary packaged groups such as fourpacks, six-packs or eight-packs as desired. While the said packaging machine is particularly adapted for use in applying such packaging clips to articles such as cans of beer or the like the machine may be readily adapted for use in applying caps to open containers or for applying labels or indicia on various articles. The disclosure includes endless belt structures provided with rotor engaging surfaces and opposed surfaces having pockets therein adapted to engage articles; drive means on the belts is adapted to cooperate with an applicator rotor which rotates in unison with the linear movement of the belts; said applicator rotor having peripheral portions disposed to roll in to close proximity to articles carried in said pockets of said belt so that said applicator rotor may apply connecting clips to a plurality of articles held in said pockets and moved therein whereby said articles are packaged into a unitary assembly such as a four-pack, six-pack or eight-pack of beverage cans or the like; the disclosure also includes means for coordinating the timing of the various features of the machine so that a plurality of said belts may be adjusted relative to each other so that their pocket portions are precisely aligned in opposition to each other for engaging opposite sides of articles or containers; the disclosure further including switch operating means on the applicator rotor for timing and initiating operation of a part feeder mechanism adapted to feed packaging clips or other parts from a magazine and to place the parts precisely on peripheral portions of the applicator rotor as it rotates in relation to the magazine; additionally the disclosure includes details of a variety of feed mechanisms for feeding packaging clips as well as other parts from the magazine of the machine on to the applicator rotor of the machine; further the disclosure includes novel mechanisms for driving parts longitudally in contiguous stacked relation to each other in the magazine of the machine for maintaining the parts constantly in a feed relation to the parts feed mechanism which is intermittently operable to place parts, such as packaging clips, on the peripheral portions of the applicator rotor of the machine during its rotation relative to the parts feed mechanism and the magazine.

United States Patent [1 1 De Shazor ARTICLE HANDLING AND PACKAGINGMACHINE [76] Inventor: James C. De Shazor, 3314 Coy Dr.,

Sherman Oaks, Calif. 91403 [22] Filed: July 7, 1971 [21] Appl. N0.:160,436

52 u.s.c|..... ..53/13s R,53/48 51 Int.Cl ..B65b 21/06 581FieldofSeaI-ch ..53/4s,13s; 198/172,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS [57] ABSTRACT The disclosurerelates to an article handling and packaging machine particularlyadapted for use in supplying packaging clips such as shown in US. Pat.No. 3,370,700 to pluralities of containers such as beer cans in order toassemble and connect pluralities of beer cans in unitary packaged groupssuch as fourpacks, six-packs or eight-packs as desired. While the saidpackaging machine is particularly adapted for use in applying suchpackaging clips to articles such as cans of beer or the like the machinemay be readily adapted for use in applying caps to open containers orfor applying labels or indicia on various articles. The disclosureincludes endless belt structures provided with rotor engaging surfacesand opposed surfaces Dec. 11, 1973 having pockets therein adapted toengage articles; drive means on the belts is adapted to cooperate withan applicator rotor which rotates in unison with the linear movement ofthe belts; said applicator rotor having peripheral portions disposed toroll in to close proximity to articles carried in said pockets of saidbelt so that said applicator rotor may apply connecting clips to aplurality of articles held in said pockets and moved therein wherebysaid articles are packaged into a unitary assembly such as a four-pack,six-pack or eight-pack of beverage cans or the like; the disclosure alsoincludes means for coordinating the timing of the various features ofthe machine so that a plurality of said belts may be adjusted relativeto each other so that their pocket portions are precisely aligned inopposition to each other for engaging opposite sides of articles orcontainers; the disclosure further including switch operating means onthe applicator rotor for timing and initiating operation of a partfeeder mechanism adapted to feed packaging clips or other parts from amagazine and to place the parts precisely on peripheral portions of theapplicator rotor as it rotates in relation to the magazine; additionallythe disclosure includes details of a variety of feed mechanisms forfeeding packaging clips as well as other parts from the magazine of themachine on to the applicator rotor of the machine; further thedisclosure includes novel mechanisms for driving parts longitudally incontiguous stacked relation to each other in the magazine of the machinefor maintaining the parts constantly in a feed relation to the partsfeed mechanism which is intermittently operable to place parts, such aspackaging clips, on the peripheral portions of the applicator rotor ofthe machine during its rotation relative to the parts feed mechanism andthe magazine.

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ARTICLE HANDLING AND PACKAGING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONVarious'articles and containers have required high speed handling andpackaging as well as capping and labeling, andin the volume productionof packaged consumer goods such as foods and beverages machines havebeen used to package glass and metal cntainers with relation to variousmeans for retaining several food or beverage containers in a singlegroup, as for example canned beverages such as beer or soft drinks aswell as those contained in glass containers have been produced in highvolume and have been packaged in groups wherein a plurality of thecontainers have been held'together by a common device or means andmachines have been employed to assemble the containers with relationjtomeans or devices for holding them in packs or groiips such as theconventional six pack of beer wherein six cans of beer may be packagedfor sale as a unitary group. It has been desirable to package aplurality of such containers varying in numbers from two containers tosix or eight containers in one package and to produce such packagedarrangements of containers at very high speed as for example arequirement has been existent for the packaging of over l,000 containersper minute so as to meet reasonable production volume demands within agiven manufacturing and packaging space area. Various prior art machineshave been developed and are utilized for assembling articles, or variouspabkages or containers into a unitary group for retain trade. Manyproblems have arisen relative to high speed packaging of containers andparticularly those holding relatively heavy material such as liquids orthe like. The high speed handling of such containers full of liquidtends to cause high inertial stresses incompatible with the economy ofpackaging many of the containers which are either made of fragilematerial or very thin metal so as to save material and weight.Accordingly high speed inertial forces acting on containersduring'packaging have posed many problems relative to the damage ordeformation of the containers in accordance with the use of prior artmachines and methods for assembling such containers into multiple unitpackages. Additionally, many of the prior art machines may not be ableto handle containers at high speed and particularly those of thin metalor glass without either damaging the containers or the contents thereof.As an example, in the handling of packaged beer it is nebessary to avoidextremely high inertial forces or accelerative forces in order toprevent the separation of carbonation gases from the beer in thecontainers. Additionally, manyprior art handling problems involved thejamming of packaging machines when a deformed package was moved into thepackaging assembly area. Many machines may thus be subject toconsiderable down time due to the fact that a crushed or deformedcontainer may jam the machine or stop the flow of articles or packagestherethrough. Additionally, many machines using reciprocating action areincapable of attaining a sufficiently high cycle rate in order toproperly handle high speed flow of containers or packages without unduestress on the mechanism of the machine or inertial damage to thecontainers, packages or articles being handled by the machine. Inaccordance with the foregoing it will be realized that the high speed,high volume packaging or handling of LII articles for the consumermarket have posed many problems which relate to packaging or labelingarticles or containers at high volume without damaging the articles orcontainers and accomplishing the packaging of such articles orcontainers at rates of over 1,000 units per minute to provide economicefficiency as required by modern production demands.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The machine of the present invention isparticularly adapted to high speed production packaging or labeling ofvarious packages, containers and/or articles in a very efficient mannerwithout substantial damage to containers, contents of the containers, orother articles being handled by the machine of the invention. Themachine of the invention comprises a novel belt mechanism wherein asingle endless belt or a plurality of such belts are provided with rotorengaging surfaces and opposed surfaces having article or packageengaging pockets therein. Each belt carries drive means and specificallypins which are disposed in spaced relation longitudinally along the beltand extending on axes parallel to the axes of the rotors on which thebelt is mounted. These pins, in spaced apart relationship to each other,are drivingly engageable with spring loaded sockets on an applicatorrotor mechanism which is adapted, at its periphery, to rotate in closeproximity to articles carried in the pockets of the belt at a stationlocation provided by stationary guide means supported on the frame ofthe machine of the invention carrying the aforementioned belt.Accordingly, the pins in the belt and the spring loaded socket structureon the applicator rotor coordinate linear movement of the belt andconcurrent rotary movement of the applicator rotor which is adapted tocarry packaging clips and roll them onto beads of cans or othercontainers for clipping the beads of the cans together, such clipsbeing, as for example, disclosed in US. Pat. of James C. DeShazor, Nos.3,357,551 and 3,370,700. Additionally various label means may be appliedto cans or articles or the periphery of the applicator rotor of theinvention may be used to print indicia on cans, packages, containers orvarious articles carried in the pockets of the belt of the invention.One or more of the belts may be used relative to a stationary guidemeans carried by a frame of a machine on which the belts are utilizedand when a pair of the belts are used the pockets of the belts may beopposed to each other at opposite sides of an elongated guide meanswhich is disposed substantially parallel to a line extending through theaxes of rotors supporting the belts such that two rows of containers maybe-engaged in the pockets of the two belts at opposite -sides of theelongated guide means and whereby peripheral portions of the applicatorrotor of the invention may apply clips such as disclosed in theaforementioned patents at tangential intersection of the cans orcontainers simply by rolling these clips onto the beads of the cans orcontainers as they move in a linear direction while the applicator rotoris merely rotating adjacent the ends thereof. The invention alsocomprises a novel combination of guide mechanism for articles orcontainers, such as beer cans received from a conveyor, so as toprecisely position the cans in a station area for application of clipsor packaging means thereto. The guide means comprises pins extendingthrough the article handling belts of the invention wherein the beltsare provided with a pair of spaced apart belt portions with drive pinsextending therethrough and sleeves on the drive pins between the beltportions and wherein guides engage the sleeves in opposed relation to alongitudinal guide means so as to force the pockets of the belt inprecise relation to longitudinal guide means so that the containers heldin the pockets are precisely moved into a station area adjacent theperiphery of the applicator rotor of the invention in order that closetolerances may be attained in the positioning of beer cans or the likewith respect to timed areas on the periphery of the applicator rotorswhich may carry packaging clips for coupling the cans together in amultiple unit package and for accomplishing such functions at veryspeed. The article handling pockets of the belt of the invention arevery resilient and are provided with fingers between the pockets andthese resilient pockets are capable of handling articles or thin wallcontainers such as aluminum beer cans at very high speed withoutdeforming the cans and furthermore the resilience of these pocketspermits a crushed can or deformed article or package to pass through thestation area of a machine on which the belt operates due to the factthat the fingers between the pockets and the pockets themselves arereadily yieldable and may temporarily deform to allow a deformed articleto pass through a machine of the invention without interruptingoperation thereof.

The invention also comprises a novel rotary adjustable coupling adaptedto provide for relative movement of the pocketed belts of the machine soas to permit adjustment of one belt in a linear relationship relative tothe other belt in order that the pockets of the belt may be directlyopposed to each other for accurately holding rows of containers inalignment with each other.

The invention also includes a novel switch operating means coupled tothe applicator rotor of the machine; the switch operating means beingadapted to time the initiation of operation of the parts feed mechanismwhich automatically feeds parts such as packaging clips from, themagazine of the invention onto peripheral portions of the applicatorrotor. The switch operating means includes adjustable features fortiming various switching operations to coincide with peripheral portionsof the applicator rotor as they move into alignment with the magazineand parts feed mechanism of the invention so that parts such aspackaging clips are accurately and rapidly applied to the periphery ofthe rotor as it rotates relative to the magazine and the parts feedmechanism.

The invention also comprises a novel cam means for actuating said switchmeans and the cam means being traversable by an adjustable switch thatfollows the cam mechanism so as to enable adjustments of the switchingmechanism to accommodate the placement of the packaging clips or otherarticles or parts from the magazine onto the applicator rotor so that,as for example, packaging clips may be applied to the rotor in order topackage either four-pack, eight-pack or six-pack assemblies of beer cansor other beverage containers as desired.

The invention also comprises novel intermittent mechanism forintermittently feeding parts from the magazine of the invention onto theperiphery of the apmechanism includes a pair of slotted parallel rotoryshafts adapted to engage opposite edges of clips, such as the packagingclips disclosed in the aforementioned patent. Likewise the variousspecies of the clip feed mechanism may be adapted for use in engagingand feeding various articles such as container covers or caps orlabeling devices onto the periphery of the applicator rotor of theinvention for rolling and compressive application to containers carriedbetween the belts of the invention which operate in a linear manner inunison with the rotation of the applicator rotor of the invention.

The invention also includes novel drive mechanism for the conveyance ofpackaging clips or other parts in the magazine of the invention.Specifically, the magazine is provided with resiliently mounted helicalscrews on each opposite side thereof. The peripheries of the screws areextended into the opposite sides of the magazine to engage oppositeedges of packaging clips or the like and the screws are spring loaded sothat when stacks of clips are contiguous with each other and themagazine is full all the way to the part feed mechanism, adjacent theapplicator rotor, that the resilient mounting of the screws permits themto flex outwardly away from the edges of the parts or packaging clips inthe magazine and to thereby constantly maintain a contiguous stack ofparts or packaging clips in the magazine while the screws continue torotate.

I The invention may also be used for capping or placing covers onvarious open containers and this capping or covering function may bevery similar to the placement of packaging clips in connection withgroups of .beer cans or other similar contents as described in theaforementioned patents.

Accordingly it is an object of the invention to provide a machineparticularly adapted for high speed, high volume packaging, labeling orcapping of various containers, packages or other articles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a very novel combinationof a resilient pocketed belt and precision guide means for coordinatingresilient pockets of the belt relative to a station area at which theperiphery of an applicator rotor rotates in unison with linear movementof the belt so that a plurality of articles or containers may bedisposed at the station area in a moving condition while the rotorrotates and rolls a packaging clip onto the rims of containers such asbeer cans or the like at very high speeds.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel rotary adjustablecoupling which allows relative movement of the belts of the invention sothat a pair of said belts with their pockets in opposed relationship toeach other may be aligned by moving one belt relative to the other untilthe pockets are precisely aligned in opposed relation to each otherwhereupon the coupling may be fixed and thereby accommodate the precisealignment of a pair of the belts of the invention for precisely holdingopposite sides of articles in alignment with each other and therebymaintain a precision alignment of a plurality of containers so as topermit precision application of packaging clips or the like to aplurality of containers as the applicator rotor carries such packagingclips on the periphery .thereof into a station area in which the beltsmove a plurality of containers to allow the periphery of the applicatorrotor to rotatably press the packaging clips on to several of thecontainers at once for attaining a unitary packaged relationship of saidplurality of containers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel cam operatedswitch means driven by the applicator rotor of the invention preciselyto initiate the timed operation of a part feed mechanism which feedsparts such as packaging clips from the magazine of the invention ontothe periphery of the applicator rotor as it rotates relative to themagazine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel switch operatingcam mechanism wherein a plurality of concentric rows of cams allow theswitch operating mechanism to be adjusted so that a switch is operatedin timed relationship with the periphery of the applicator rotor toenergize the parts feed mechanism optionally to feed packaging clipsonto the periphery of the rotor so as to attain either four-pack,six-pack of eightpack assemblies of containers carried between the beltsof the machine as they pass relative to the periphery of the applicatorrotor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a variety of novelintermittently operated mechanisms for feeding parts from the magazineof the invention onto the periphery of the applicator rotor, the variousmechanisms including reciprocating cam mechanisms as well as rotarynotched shaft mechanisms having a pair of notched shafts adapted toengage opposite ends of packaging clips and rotatable from the magazinetoward the applicator rotor'so as to apply one clip at a time to theperiphery of the applicator rotor as it moves relative to the magazineof the invention. Another object of the invention is to provide novelresiliently mounted screw means having peripheral portions projectinginto opposite sides of the magazine for resiliently packing stacks ofpackaging clips or other articles in the magazine contiguous with thepart feed mechanism at the end thereof so that when the magazine is fullof contiguous parts such as packaging clips the resilient mounting ofthe screws will allow them to move laterally relative to the edges ofthe packaging clips and to slip relative thereto and continue to rotateso that there will be constant feeding of parts in the magazine at alltimes as required.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine which isparticulary adapted for use in packaging a plurality of containers inaccordance with the use of packaging clips such as disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 3,357,551 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,370,700 hereinbefore referred to.

Further objects and advantages of the invention may be apparent from thefollowing specification, appended claims, and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sideelevational view of an article handling and packaging machine inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of an applicator rotor mechanism shownon enlarged scale relative to that shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the applicator rotor shown in FIG. 2and taken from line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan sectional view taken from theline 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 5-5 of FIG.4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of a belt mechanism of the invention shownin FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings and showing a portion of the belt onenlarged scale.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 77of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view taken from the line88 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 99of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line10-10 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of one of the belts ofthe machine of the invention taken from the line 11-11 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an applicator rotorand belt mechanism which constitutes a modification of the invention;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view taken from line13-13 of FIG. 1 showing belt drive mechanism of the invention and arotary adjustable clutch adapted to allow linear adjustment of one ofthe belts of the invention relative to the other;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from line 14-14of FIG. 13 and Showing parts and portions in elevation to facilitatetheillustration;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary plansectional view taken from line 15-15 ofFIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view taken from lineI6-16of FIG. 3; showing an applicator rotor of the invention and showingswitch operating cam means in connection therewith;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from line 17-17of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from linel8l8'of FIG. 16;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of one magazineand part feed mechanism of the invention;

FIG. 20 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the magazineof the invention aken from line 20-20 of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from line 21-21of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of a peripheralportion of the applicator rotor of the machine of the invention shown inrelation to the part feed magazine and part feed mechanism of theinvention and showing by broken lines a packaging clip being fed ontothe periphery of the applicator rotor of the machine of the invention;

FIG. 23 is a fragmentary plan sectional view taken from a line 23-23 ofFIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevational view of the magazineand part feed mechanism taken from a line 24-24 of FIG. 19;

FIG. 25 is an enlarged fragmentary end view of the part magazine of theinvention taken from a line 25-25 of FIG. 19 and showing portions of thestructure broken away to amplify the illustration;

FIG. 26 is a view similar to FIG. 24 but showing a modified part feedmechanism at the end of the magazine of the machine and showing portionsof the part feed mechanism broken away and in section to amplify theillustration;

FIG. 27 is a side elevational viewof the modified part feed mechanismtaken from line 27-27 of FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is a fragmentary plan sectional view taken from a line 2828 ofFIG. 27; and

FIG. 29 is a fragmentary plan sectional view taken from line 2929 ofFIG. 26.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIG. 1 of thedrawings a frame 31 is provided with a base 32 and portions of thisframe support the subject matter of the present invention or inventionsdisclosed herein.

An article moving and positioning belt mechanism 33 is disclosed best inFIGS. 1, 4, and 6 of the drawings. This belt mechanism comprises a pairof superimposed belts 34 and 35 which are connected together by drivepins as will be hereafter described. These belts 34 and 35 aresuperimposed as shown in FIG. 1 but may be spaced horizontally when usedin various positions or may be mounted on supporting rotors having theiraxes disposed at various angles to the horizontal or vertical asdesired.

The belts 34 and 35 are similar in construction and are coupled togetherby drive pins 36 and several of these belts 34 and 35, forming beltmechanisms 33, may be utilized in a machine in accordance with thepresent invention, as for example a pair of the belt mechanisms 33 areshown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, and it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art from the following description that one or more beltassemblies 33 may be used depending upon the manner in which variousarticles, packages or containers may be packaged, labeled or capped by amachine utilizing the belt mechanisms 33.

As an example, the belt 34 will be described in detail. This belt 34 asshown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, is an endless belt and adapted to besupported by a pair of gear belt supporting and driving rotors 37 and 38which are shown operable on a vertical axis in FIGS. 1 and 4 of thedrawings but which may be operated on an axis disposed at any angle tothe vertical, if desired.

The rotors 37 and 38 are provided with conventional gear belt toothedperipheries 39 and 40 respectively which drivingly engage rotor engagingsurfaces of the belt 34. The rotor engaging surface of the belt 34 isprovided with gear belt teeth 41 conformingly engageable with thetoothed peripheries 39 and 40 of the rotors 37 and 38. The belt 34, at aside opposite the rotor engaging surfaces 41, is provided with aplurality of adjacent article engaging pockets 42 and these pockets areadapted to engage articles such as beer cans or the like, indicated bybroken lines 43 in FIG. 4 of the drawings, all as will be hereinafterdescribed.

Specific construction of the belt 34 is shown in detail in FIGS. 6 and11 of the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 11 the belt 34 is providedwith a first layer having said rotor engaging surface 41 thereon. Thisfirst layer is designated 44 in FIG. 6 of the drawings. A second layer46 of the belt 34 is provided with the pockets 42 therein. The firstlayer 44 is provided with a first surface 48 bonded to a second surface50 of the second layer 46. As shown in FIG. 11 of the drawings the firstlayer 44 is provided with a plurality of tension resisting strands 52therein. These strands 52 may be made of steel, nylon, or other suitabletension resisting material and this first layer 44 ,of the belt 34 issimilar'to conventional commercially available geared rotor engagingbelts. The layer 44 is basically composed of a flexible material andpreferably neoprene. The second layer of material 46 is generally ofelastomeric character, preferably of abrasion resistant material such aspolyurethane.

Each belt mechanism 33 comprises structure such as shown in FIGS. 1, 5and 7 wherein the pins 36 extend through a pair of the belts 34 and 35.The pins 36 are provided with snap ring receiving grooves 66 and 68engaged by snap rings 70 and 72 near opposite driving ends 74 and 76respectively of the drive pins 36. Intermediate portions of the drivepins 36 are surrounded by sleeves 78 which are rotatably mounted on thepins 36 and adapted to engage belt guides as will be hereinafterdescribed.

It will be seen that the belts 34 and 35 of the belt mechanism 24, shownin FIG. 7, are spaced apart in engagement with opposite ends of thesleeves 78. The sleeves 78 are adapted to rotatably engage stationaryguides 80 as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings and as will be hereinafterdescribed in detail. It will be seen that the belt 34 is provided withopenings 62 and similar openings are provided in the belt 28 such thatthese openings snugly engage the peripheries of the pins 36 so as toprecisely form the assembly as shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings andprecisely to effect uniform spacing of the pins 36 all as shown best inFIGS. 4 and 6 of the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings a pair of the belt mechanisms 33 aredisposed to operate in opposed relation to each other and with respectto two rows of beer cans or the like for the purpose of packaging cansin either four pack, six pack or eight pack assemblies or packages asdesired.

It will be seen that the pockets 42, radially outward from the beltsupporting rotors 37 and 38, are deflected out of normal shape and intoopen diverging disposition so as to be considerably broader and moreopen than when in normal shape which is arcuate and which reoccurs aftereach pocket 42 has passed over a respective rotor 37 or 38 and isdisposed in a path therebetween.

As shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings the frame of the machine supports apair of idler rotors 84 and these rotors 84 are each provided withsuperimposed rotor portions 86 and 88 as shown in FIG. 5 of the drawingsand the rotor portions 86 and 88 engage the belts 34 and 35 of each beltmechanism 33.

The axes of the idler rotors 84 are offset laterally relative to theaxes of the rotors 37 and 38 and offset laterally relative to a linepassing through respective rotors 37 and 38 and in the machinearrangement as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings the idle-r rotors 84 areoffset in a direction toward opposing belt mechanisms 33 so as toprovide for converging sections of each belt mechanism 33 in a directiontoward the opposing belt mechanism 33 and toward an elongated guidemeans 90 disposed midway between the two belt mechanisms 33 as shown inFIG. 4 of the drawings.

The elongated guide means 90 is generally in the form of a very thinwall structure and is disposed in upstanding relation from a receivingplatform 92 which receives cans or other articles or containers from aconveyor 94 which is not disclosed in detail in this application butwhich may be the subject matter of another application.

.As indicated by the broken lines 43, cans are moved in a direction ofan arrow A by the conveyor 94 onto the platform 92 and the areas betweenthe rotors 3.7

' 90 in a direction of arrow A such that the cans or containers as shownby broken lines 43 are moved toward the guide means 90 as the cansprogress on the platform 92 in a direction of arrow A toward a stationarea designated'generally 96 in FIG. 4 of the drawings. It will beunderstood that the guide means 80 hereinbefore described are providedwith inclined ramp portions 98 which are inclined inwardly toward theguide means 90 and that the guide means 90 is a very thin sheet metalstructure adapted to separate the cans very slightly at theirtangentially adjacent portions.

The inwardly converging portions of the opposed guides 80 force the beltmechanisms 33 inwardly toward the upstanding guide means 90 byengagement of the inclined portions 98 with the sleeves 78 on the pins64 which extend through both belt portions 34 and 35 of each beltmechanism 33. Thus the belt mechanisms 33 as they proceed in a linearmanner toward the station area 96 are forced inwardly and precisely inspaced relation to the upstanding guide means 90 which forms a partitionof very thin dimensions between the two rows of cans as indicated bybroken lines 43 in FIG. 4 of the drawings.

The material of the belt 34 as well as the belt 35, at the pocketportions 42, is soft and resilient and precisely conforms at each pocketportion 42 with the shape of the respective containers or articleswhich, as shown by broken lines 43 in FIG. 4 happen to be beverage canshaving arcuate surfaces. Inasmuch as FIG. 4 is a plan view it generallydiscloses the cans in upright position and the view is directed towardthe tops of the cans so that their cross-section appears circular andthe arcuate pockets 42 conform precisely with these cans since thesepockets are resilient and of relatively soft material capable ofhandling thin wall cans by intimate contact therewith and without damageto the cans such as to deform them in any way.

Accordingly, the belt mechanisms 33 move the beverage containers or cansinto the station area 96 between a pair of applicator rotors 100 and102- These rotors 100 and 102 are shown best in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and of thedrawings. The rotors 100 and 102 are mounted respectively on axles 104and 106 carried by frame members 108 and 110 which are verticallyadjustably mounted on vertical members 112 and 114 of the frame 31. Thusrespective, peripheral portions 116 and 118 of the applicator rotors 100and 102 are adjustable relative to respective upper and lower ends ofcans as they reach the station area 96 as hereinbefore described, sothat packaging clips, labels or indicia may be placed on'the cans asdesired.

The mechanism of the invention as shown, however, is devoted to thespecific operation of connecting pluralities of the cans together bymeans of packaging clips as'disclosed in the hereinbefore mentionedpatents. Thus the peripheries of the applicator rotors and specificallythe peripheries 116 and 118 are adjusted so that they are in closeproximity to areas of the upper and lower ends of the cans at thestation area 96.

As shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings the platform 92, serving as a portionof the guide means of the invention, is provided with an opening 93therein through which peripheral portions of one of the applicatorrotors 148 extends. The lowermost applicator rotor in connection withthe rotor 102 may feed packaging clips onto the lower rim portions ofcans or containers and the periphery of this lowermost rotor 102 isloaded with packaging clips in the same manner as hereinbeforedescribed; it being noted that there are two magazines and two clipfeeder assemblies 154 as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings and each ofthese assemblies 154 includes structures such as shown in FIG. 19 of thedrawings wherein a magazine 282 carries a part feed mechanism 266 or amodified parts feed mechanism such as shown in FIGS. 26 and 27 of thedrawings. It will be noted that the applicator rotors 148 are identicaland therefore both upper and lower rotors and 102 each carry anapplicator rotor 148, however, the switch operating mechanism as shownin FIG. 16 may be carried by only one of the rotors 100 or 102 and asdisclosed herein the switch operating mechanism as shown in FIG. 16 iscarried by the rotor assembly 100 as disclosed in FIG. 1 of thedrawings.

Linear movement of the belt mechanisms 33 and rotary movement of therotors 100 and 102 at the station area 96 is synchronized by means ofpins 36 of the belt mechanisms 33 in engagement with cups 120resiliently mounted generally at the peripheries 116 and 118 of therotors 100 and 102.

This arrangement is shown best in assembly in FIG. 5 of the drawingswherein the cups 120 are shown projecting from the periphery 118 of theapplicator roller 102 and the drive ends 74 and 76 of a pin 36 areengaged in respective cups 120 carried by the applicator rotors 100 and102.

The drive cups or drive means 120 are shown best in FIGS. 2, 3 and 10 ofthe drawings. The rotor 102 is shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 10 of thedrawings and the construction of the rotor 100 is similar and thereforethe features of the rotor 102 will suffice for the purpose of disclosingboth applicator rotors 100 and 102.

Each drive cup 120 as shown in FIG. 10 of the drawings is provided witha generally conical cup portion 122 adapted to conformingly engage witha drive end 74 or 76 of one of the drive pins 36 as shown in FIG. 7 ofthe drawings and each cup 122 is radially reciprocally mounted in anopening 124 in a rim portion 126 of the rotor 102 and each cup 120 isprovided with a flange 128 engaging an inner side of a rim portion 130of the rotor 102. A coil spring 132 at one end is fitted in a socket 134inwardly of the respective cup 120 and an opposite end 136 of the coilspring 132 is disposed I over a radially disposed projection 138 of adisc portion 140 of the rotor 102. Thus each cup 120 is spring loadedradially outward and adapted conformingly and precisely to engage arespective end 74 or 76 of a drive pin 36 as respective drive pinreaches the station area 96 directly between peripheral portions 116 and118 of the applicator rotors 100 and 102. The spring loaded moving ofthe cups 120 not only provides for honest and precise engagement withthe ends 74 and 76 of the drive pin 36, but also permits camming releaseof the cups 120 relative to the ends 74 and 76 of the drive pin 36 inthe event that a deformed container is carried through the station area96 by the belt mechanisms 33 and thus the spring loaded mounting of thecups 120 allows camming release thereof relative to the drive pin 36 sothat neither the applicator rotors or the belt mechanisms 33 may bedamaged in the event that either of the rotors or the belt mechanismsmay become restrained or unduly loaded by a damaged article or containerwhich enters the station area 96 or which becomes indisposed withrespect to its normal passage through the machine of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings it will be seen that the springloaded cups 120 are carried into rows on two separate rim portions 142and 144 of the respective applicator rotor 102. The row of cups 120 onthe rim portion 142 may drivingly engage the belt mechanism 33 at oneside of the guide means 90 as shown in FIG. 4 while the spring loadedcups 120 on the rim 144 may engage drive pins carried by the oppositebelt mechanism 33, shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings.

Each applicator rotor 100 or 102 is provided with an applicator rim andthe applicator rotor 102 is provided with such an applicator rim 148 andthis rim is shown between the rims 142 and 144 in FIG. 3 of thedrawings. Carried by the applicator rim 148 are outwardly directedprojections 150 such as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 of the drawings. Theseprojections 150 are spaced apart properly to be engaged in fingerreceiving holes of packaging clips such as shown in the aforementionedpatents. Each applicator projection 150 is secured to the rim 148 by ascrew 152 which is screw threaded into the rim 148 andeach clip holdingprojection bears upon a supporting washer 154, also held in place by thescrew 152 which is screw threaded into the respective rim 148.

Magazine and part feed mechanism 154 of the machine shown in FIG. 1 ofthe drawings is movable into close proximity with peripheral portions116 and 118 of the applicator rotors 100 and 102 respectively and thesemechanisms 154 are adapted automatically to place packaging clips on theclip holding projections 150 as the rotors 100 and 102 rotate indirections as indicated by arrows in FIG. 1 of the drawings.

Accordingly, it will be appreciated that when openings of the packagingclips as shown in the aforementioned patents are frictionally engagedover the projections 150 and when the rotors 100 and 102 are rotated inclose proximity to ends of the cans as the belt mechanisms 33 proceed ina linear direction as indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 4 of the drawingsthat the clips are rolled onto the tops of the cans and frictionallyengaged with the beads thereof and such friction is sufficient to removethe clips from the projections 150 automatically as the cans thenproceed outwardly from the station area 96 and onto an outgoing conveyor158 in a direction as indicated by an arrow B in FIG. 4 of the drawings.During high speed rotation of the applicator rotors 100 and 102 thedrive pins 36 and spring loaded cups 120 maintain smooth, uniform andaccurate synchronous movement of the belt mechanisms 33 in a lineardirection while the peripheries of the rotors 100 and 102 roll packagingclips onto the rims of pluralities of the cans so as to packagepluralities of the cans either in four pack, six pack, or eight packassemblies or packages as desired and depending upon the use of therespective packaging clips as disclosed in the aforementioned paents.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the mechanisms 154shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings may apply packaging clips, labels orother indicia which may be transferred to ends of cans, containers,packages or other articles both by the belt mechanisms 33 into thestation area 96, and accordingly the belt mechanism of the invention aswell as the applicator rotors are not limited specifically to theapplication of packaging clips such as disclosed in the hereinbeforementioned patents.

In the modification as shown in FIG. 12, an applicator rotor 160 ofmodified construction may be substituted for either or both of therotors or 102. The rotor is provided with an annular row of driveprojections 162 which are cooperable with drive sockets 163 in amodified belt 164. The belt 164 may be substituted for one of the drivebelt mechanisms 24. The belt 164 is provided with said drive sockets 163such that said sockets 163 assume positions similar to those of thedrive pins 36 hereinbefore described. It will be understood that thebelt mechanism 164 is otherwise similar to the belt mechanisms 24hereinbefore described. The drive sockets 163 are in the form ofrecesses in resilient material of the belt 164 so as to provide aprecise yet yieldable driving relationship between the applicator 160and the belt 164.

As shown in FIG. 13 of the drawings a pair of shafts 166 and 168 extenddownwardly from the ends of said shafts 166 and 168 shown in FIG. 4 ofthe drawings. These shafts 166 and 168 carrying the gear belt rollers 32which drive the belt assemblies 33.

As shown in FIG. 13 of the drawings the shaft 166 is coupled to a shaft170 projecting from a gear box 172 and the shaft 166 and 170 areconnected by an adjustable rotary coupling 174.

The shaft 168 is connected by a fixed coupling 176 to a shaft 178projecting from a gear box 180.

The gear box 180 is driven by means of a motor driven sprocket 182 whichmay be engaged by a chain (not shown) however this sprocket 182 is powerdriven and the gear box 180 is provided with a shaft 184 driven inunison with the sprocket 182. A coupling 186 connects a shaft 188 withthe shaft 184 so that the shafts 184 and 188 operate in unison with theoperation of the sprockets 182. The gears boxes 172 and 180 are rightangle drives and drive the shafts 170 and 178 in unison.

The rotary adjustable coupling 174 is shown in the detail in FIGS. 14and 15 and is adapted to provide for rotational adjustments of the shaft166 relative to the shaft 170 and relative to the shafts 178 and 168 soas to provide for relative movement of one of the belt assemblies 33 soas to provide for relative adjustment of the belt assemblies 33 in orderthat their pocket portions 42 directly face each other and are thusaligned to support the containers substantially as indicated by brokenlines 43.

The rotary adjustable coupling 174 is provided with a hub portion 190 tothe shaft 170 and is provided with another hub portion 192 fixed to theshaft 166. The hub 190 is provided with an enlarged annular body portion194 having an annular T slot 196 therein. This T slot is disposed tosupport flange nuts 198 therein and these flange nuts are provided withinternally screw threaded openings 200 in which screws 202 are screwthreadably engaged. These screws 202 are provided with beads 204engaging washers 206 which are abutted to a surface 208 of an enlargedbody portion 208 integral with the sleeve 192. The screws 202 extendthrough openings 210 in the body portion 208 and when the screws 202,are tightened by means of their head portions 204, they advance in theflange nuts 198 and tighten them in the T slots 196 so as to force thebody portions 194 and 208 together to abut at a mating faced area 211forming a separation between the body portions 194 and 208.

Carried by the body portion 194 is a ring gear 212 secured in the bodyportion 198 by pins 214. This ring gear is provided with internal gearteeth 216 engaged by external teeth 218 of an adjusting pinion 220 whichis coupled to a shaft 222 having a projecting nut 224 extending abovethe upper surface of the body 208. Thus the spur gear 220 may be rotatedrelative to the ring'gear 212 such that theshaft 222 of the gear 220,fitted in a bore 226 of a body 208, may cause rotative movement of thebody 208 relative to the body 194 when the screws 202 are loosenedrelative to the flange nuts 198. Thus application of a wrench to the nut224 in connection with the spur gear 220 may provide for finite rotaryadjustment of the sleeve 192 relative to the sleeve 190 and consequentlyprovide for slight rotary adjustment between the shaft 166 and shaft170. In this manner relative adjustment of the belt assembly 33, drivenby the shaft 166, is accomplished relative to the belt assembly 33driven byithe shaft 168. Thus the pockets of one of the belt assemblies33 may be directly aligned in opposition to the pockets 42 of theopposing belt assembly 33 shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings.

It will be understood that when proper rotary adjustment of the shaft166 is accomplished relative to the shaft 170 that the screws 202 aretightened by applying a wrench to the heads 204 thereof for tighteningthe flange nuts 198 in the T slot 196.

It will be understood that the T slot 196 is annular and that the flangenuts 198 are slidable in theT slot 196 when the screws 202 are loosenedrelative to the flange nuts 198. 7

As shown in FIG. 14 of the drawings it will be seen that both of thebody portions 194 and 208 at their parting surface area 211 are disposedat an intermediate area of the ring gear 212 so that the ring gear 212at its periphery concentrically aligns the body portions 194 and 208. v

The power driven sprocket 182 driving the gear boxes 172 and 1801causesthe shafts 166 and 168 to be which are carried by the gear belt rotors38 mounted on and driven by the shafts 166 and 168.

As shown in FIGS. 16, 17 and 18 a timing cam and switch mechanism isprovided for controlling the positioning of packaging clips on theprojections 150 of the applicator rotor 148 shown in FIG. 3 of thedrawings. FIG. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view ofthe rotor 144 which is provided with a disc 228 carrying a pair of semicircular cam plates 230 and 232. These semi circular cam plates 230 and232 provide for a cam assembly extending throughout a 360 area on theside of the rotor disc 228. As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 the semicircular cam plate 230 is provided with an elongated arcuate slot 232through which a bolt 234 extends and this bolt 34 as shown in FIG. 17extends through the disc 228 and is provided with a clamp nut 236 whichclamps the cam plate 230 in a fixed position on the outer side of therotor disc 228. The arcuate slot 232 is typical structure for adjustablysupporting the semi circular cam plate 230 as well as the semi circularcam plate 231 thus allowing rotational adjustment of these cam plates tocoordinate cycle operation of means for placing packaging clips on theprojections of the rotor 148 shown best in FIG. 3 of the drawmgs.

The cam plates 230 and 231 are provided with a row of cam projections238 which are disposed in a generally circular row and angularly spacedapart to correspond with the cycle disposition of certain ones of theclip receiving projections 150 as will be hereinafter described. Thesecam portions 238 are disposed to program operation of a clip feedingmechanism for packaging six-packs of canned beer or other beverages byuse of packaging clips as disclosed in the hereinbefore mentionedpatent.

Likewise projecting cams 240 are disposed in an arcuate row on the sideof the cam plates 230 and 231 and these cam portions 240 are disposed ata longer radius than the cam portions 238 and the cam portions 240 arearranged to program the machine of the invention for packaging four-packpackages of canned beer or the like. Disposed outwardly and radiallybeyond the cam portions 240 are cam portions 242 which are disposed torogram operation of the machine of the invention for packagingeight-pack packages of canned beer or the like or as will hereinafter bedescribed.

A switch supporting bar 244 is stationarily mounted on the frame 22 ofthe invention adjacent the rotor 144 and this bar is disposed to supporta switch box 246 having a spring loaded contact arm 248 and having acontact roller 250 adapted to engage either the cams 238, 40 or 242depending upon the position of the switch box 246 as it is slideablymoved on the rod 244 and fixed thereon in variously adjusted positions.

It will be seen that the rod 244 is so aligned that it will allow theroller 252 to move precisely in a radical direction from the center 252of the rotor disc 228.

The cam portions 242, as shown in FIG. 18 of the drawings, extendoutwardly from a plane 254 of the cam plates 230 and 231 and ends of theadjacent cam portions 242 are provided with angularly inclined portions243 extending from the plane 254 all as shown best in FIG. 18.

Opposite ends of the cam portions 238 and 240 are likewise provided withinclined portions similar to the inclined portions 243.

The switch box 246 contains a switch operable by the arm 248 and theroller 250. When the roller 250 rises on one of the cams 238, 240 or 242the switch in the box 246 conducts electrical energy to a solenoid valve256 and to a similar solenoid valve 258 which actuates the clip feedmechanisms which place packaging clips on respective applicator rotorsdisposed above and below the container guide platform 92.

The solenoid valves 256 and 258 of the respective magazine and part feedmechanisms 154 are similar and therefore the solenoid valve 256 inconnection with its respective actuating mechanism will be hereinafterdescribed in detail. This solenoid valve 256 is disposed in FIG. 19 andis related to clip feed mechanism 266 also shown in FIGS. 22, 23 and 24as will be hereinafter described in detail.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 19 and 24 a fluid actuated cylinder 260 is coupledto the solenoid valve 256 and this cylinder 260 is a double actingcylinder having a plunger 262 shown best in FIG. 24 of the drawings. Theplunger 262 is coupled to a crossbar 264 of a reciprocating clip feedmechanism 266 and the plunger 262 is therefore adapted to reciprocatethe clip feed assembly

1. In an article positioning and packaging machine the combination of: aframe; a first pair of spaced apart rotors having peripheral portions;said rotors rotatably mounted on said frame; a first belt having a rotorengaging surface engaging said peripheral portions of said first rotors;said first belt having recessed article pocket portions open in adirection opposite to a direction faced by said rotor engaging surfacesof said belt; a second pair of spaced apart rotors having peripheralportions and being rotatably mounted on said frame; a second belt havingsecond rotor engaging surfaces engaging said peripheral portions of saidsecond pair of rotors; said second belt having second recessed articlepocket portions open in a direction opposite to that faced by saidsecond rotor engaging surfaces; said second pair of rotors and saidsecond belt disposed so that said second article pocket portions thereofare opposed to and open toward said article pocket portions of saidfirst belt; power operated means for synchronously driving one rotor ofeach of said first and second pairs of rotors; said power operated meanshaving first and second synchronized shaft means coupled respectively toone rotor of each of said first and second pairs of rotors; one of saidsynchronized shaft means having a pair of axially aligned shafts; and arotatably adjustable coupling interconnecting said pair of axiallyaligned shafts whereby said rotatably adjustable coupling allowsrelative rotation of said axially aligned shafts to adjust a linearposition of one of said belts relative to a linear position of the otherof said belts to attain a desired precise opposed alignment of saidfirst and second article pockets of said first and second belts relativeto each other.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein; anapplicator rotor is provided with a peripheral area and is rotatablymounted on said frame on an axis at an angle to axes of said first andsecond pairs of said rotors; first and second driving means on saidfirst and second belts; first and second driving means on saidapplicator rotor; said first and second driving means on said beltsengageable with said first and second driving means on said applicatorrotor to synchronize linear movement of said belts and rotary movementof said applicator rotor.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 2wherein; said applicator rotor is provided with radially projectingapplicator means located generally at said peripheral area thereon andadapted to carry a clip; said machine having structures comprising astation area adapted to support a plurality of adjacent moving cansclose to the periphery of said applicator rotor so as to cause saidplurality of cans to be clipped together by said clip as said pockets ofsaid first and second belts and said applicator means are synchronouslymoved through said station area such that said clip is compressiblyrolled into clipped relation with bead portions at the end of said cans,while said plurality of cans moves synchronously in said pockets of saidbelt and with the peripheral portion of said applicator rotor and saidapplicator emans thereon.
 4. In an article handling and packagingmachine the combination oF: a frame; a pair of spaced apart rotorshaving peripheral portions; said rotors rotatably mounted on said frame;a belt having a rotor engaging surface engaging said peripheral portionsof said rotors; said belt having recessed article pocket portions openin a direction opposied to a direction faced by said rotor engagingsurfaces of aid belt; an applicator rotor having a peripheral area androtatably mounted on said frame on an axis at an angle to the axes ofsaid pair of rotors; driving means operably disposed to drive said beltand said applicator rotor and to synchronize linear movement of saidbelt and rotary movement of said applicator rotor, said peripheral areaof said applicator rotor having applicator means comprising radiallyprojecting holders extending generally in a radial direction from saidperipheral area; a magazine for holding parts, said magazine adapted tohold a plurality of generally flat parts in a generally tangentialdisposition relative to said peripheral area; said magazine having anoutlet adjacent said peripheral area of said applicator rotor; a poweroperated intermittent part feed mechanism disposed at said magazineoutlet and adapted intermittently to feed parts from said magazine in adirection toward said peripheral area so as t dispose one of said partsfor engagement with one of said hlders on said peripheral area; cyclecontrol means; means for driving said cycle control means in synchronismwith said applicator rotor; said cycle control means coupled to saidpower operated intermittent part feed mechanism for synchronouslyoperating said power operated intermittent parts feed mechanism and saidapplicator rotor such that said parts are intermittently fed to aposition for engagement with said part holders while said applicatorrotor is rotating.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein; saidperiphery of said applicator rotor is provided with said applicatormeans comprising parts holders projecting generally in a radialdirection from said peripheral area; a magazine for holding parts; saidmagazine adapted to hold a plurality of generally flat parts ingenerally tangential disposition relative to said peripheral area; saidmagazine having an outlet adjacent said peripheral area of saidapplicator rotor; power operated intermittent part feed mechanismdisposed at said magazine outlet and adapted intermittently to feedparts from said magazine in a direction toward said peripheral area soas to cause engagement of said parts with one of said holders on saidperipheral area; switch operating mechanism; means for driving saidswitch operating mechanism in synchronism with said applicator rotor; anelectrical switch operable by said switch operating mechanism, saidelectrical switch coupled to said power operated intermittent parts feedmechanism for synchronously timing operation of said power operatedintermittent parts feed mechanism and said applicator rotor such thatsaid parts are intermittently fed to a position for engagement with saidparts holders while said applicator rotor is rotating.
 6. In an articlehandling and packaging machine a combination of: a frame; a pair ofspaced apart rotors having peripheral portions; said rotors rotatablymounted on said frame; a belt having a rotor engaging surface engagingsaid peripheral portion of said rotors; said belt having recessedarticle pocket portions open in a direction opposite to a directionfaced by said rotor engaging surfaces of said belt; and applicator rotorhaving a peripheral area and rotatably mounted on said frame on an axisat an angle to the axes of said pair of rotors; means for synchronouslyoperating said belt and said applicator rotor to coordinate linearmovement of said belt and rotary movement of said applicator rotor; saidperipheral area of said applicator rotor having applicator meanscomprising part holders at said peripheral area; a magazine for holdingparts; said magazine adapted to hold a plurality of generally flat partsin generally tangential dIsposition relative to said peripheral area;said magazine having an outlet adjacent said peripheral area of saidapplicator rotor; a power operated intermittent part feed mechanismdisposed at said magazine outlet and adapted intermittently to feedparts from said magazine in a direction toward said peripheral area andto a position to cause engagement of said parts with one of said holderson said peripheral area; operating means; means for driving said cyclecontrol means in synchronism with said applicator rotor; said cyclecontrol means disposed to activate said intermittent part feed mechanismfor synchronously timing operation of said power operated intermittentpart feed mechanism and said applicator rotor such that said parts areintermittently fed to a position for engagement with said part holderson said peripheral area of said applicator rotor while said applicatorrotor is rotating relative to said magazine.
 7. The invention as definedin claim 6 wherein; said part feed mechanism comprises a reciprocatingcam structure having cam portions adapted to engage opposite edges ofparts in said magazine and to project said parts to the outlet end ofsaid magazine and toward the peripheral area of said applicator rotorfor engagement of said parts with said holders on the peripheral area ofthe applicator rotor.
 8. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein;guide channels are disposed adjacent said cam portions for supportingsaid parts in substantially tangential relation to said peripheral areaof said applicator rotor so as to project said parts into closeproximity to said peripheral area; said guide channels extending in asubstantially tangential relation relative to said peripheral area ofsaid applicator rotor; said parts being resilient clips having openingstherein and said openings being engageable by said radially projectingholders so as to slideably move said clips in said guide channels; and astationary roller adjacent to said guide channels spaced closelyrelative to the periphery of said applicator rotor to cause compressiverolling application of said clips onto said peripheral area about saidprojecting holders as the applicator rotor passes said last mentionedroller.
 9. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein; said parts feedmechanism comprises a pair of slotted shafts having slots in the sidesthereof; said shafts spaced apart at opposite sides of said magazine andsaid slots adapted to receive opposite edges of parts in said magazine;means for synchronizing rotation of said slotted shafts; anintermittently operable rotary means for rotating said shafts so as tocause opposite edges of a part, engaged in said slots, to be moved fromthe interior of said magazine toward the outlet thereof and toward saidperipheral ara of said applicator rotor; said intermittently operablerotary means being coupled to said cycle control means andintermittently operable thereby.
 10. The invention as defined in claim 9wherein; guide channels are disposed adjacent to said shafts havingslots therein; resilient clips in said magazine; said clips beingprovided with opposite edges engageable in said slots in said rotaryshafts; channel guides at the outlet of said magazine adjacent to wwhichsaid resilient clips may be moved by said rotary shafts in said slotsthereof; said resilient clips being provided with openings thereinadapted to be engaged by said radially projecting holders to therebycause said holders to slide said resilient clips from said guidechannels in a direction substantially tangentially relative to saidperipheral area of said applicator rotor; and a stationary rollerclosely spaced relative to said peripheral area and adapted securely toengage a clip coupled with one of said radially projecting holders andto cause said clip to be rolled securely onto said holder as theperiphery of said applicator rotor passes directly opposite lastmentioned roller.
 11. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein; saidmagazine is provided wIth a plurality of resilient screw structures atopposite sides thereof; said screws having peripheral portions projectedto the interior of said magazine and engageable with opposite edges ofparts in said magazine helically advancing said parts longitudinally insaid magazine and into contiguous stacked relation to each other; saidscrews being radially deflectable away from said opposite edges of saidparts when said parts are stacked contiguously in said magazine so thatsaid peripheral portions of said screws may slide over respective edgesof said parts and may continue to rotate after said magazine has beenstacked to full capacity.
 12. The invention as defined in claim 10wherein; said magazine is provided with a plurality of resilientlymounted helical feed screws having peripheral portions projecting intoopposite areas of said magazine and engageable with opposite edges ofparts therein for helically advancing said parts into contiguous stackedrelationship in said magazine; said resiliently mounted screws beingadapted to deflect laterally relative to their axes and slip overopposite edges of said parts when said parts are in contiguous relationwith each other and when said magazine is stacked full of said parts.13. In an article handling and packaging machine a combination of: aframe; a pair of spaced apart rotors having peripheral portions; saidrotors rotatably mounted on aid frame; a belt having rotor engagingsurfaces engaging said peripheral portions of said rotors; said beltshaving recessed article pocket portions open in a direction opposite toa direction faced by said rotor engaging surfaces of said belt; anapplicator rotor having a peripheral area and rotatably mounted on saidframe on an axis at an angle to those of said pair of rotors; means fordriving said belt and applicator rotor synchronously to synchronizelinear movement of said belt and rotary movement of said applicatorrotor; part holder means on said applicator rotor; a magazine having anoutlet disposed adjacent said peripheral area of said applicator rotor;parts feed mechanism for transferring parts from said outlet toward saidperipheral area of said applicator rotor; and a plurality of resilientlymounted free screws on said magazine and having peripheral portionsprojecting into said magazine and engageable with opposite edges ofparts therein, said feed screws adapted to helically move said parts insaid magazine into a contiguous stacked relationship therein adjacentsaid outlet; the resilient mounting of said feed screws adapted topermit peripheries of said screws to slip over opposite edges of saidparts in said magazine while said feed screws rotate constantly and whensaid parts are in contiguous relationship with each other and when saidmagazine is stacked full of said parts.
 14. The invention as defined inclaim 13 wherein; intermittent means is adapted to feed parts from saidoutlet in said magazine toward said peripheral area of said applicatorrotor; and timing means is operated in synchronism with said applicatorrotor and adapted intermittently to energize said intermittent partsfeed mechanism.
 15. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein; saidparts feed mechanism comprises a pair of substantially parallel spacedapart shafts having slotted ortions disposed longitudinally in the sideportions thereof; intermittent mechanism for concurrently rotating saidlast mentioned shafts in synchronism with each other such that saidslotted portions engage opposite edges of parts in said magazine andmove said parts from a stacked position therein towards said outlet ofsaid magazine.
 16. The invention as defined in claim 15 wherein; guidechannels are disposed adjacent said outlet in said magazine, said guidechannels adapted to receive said parts from said slotted portions ofsaid shafts, said channels being disposed in substantially tangentialrelation to the peripheral area of said applicator rotor whereby saidradially projecting holders may engage one of sAid parts in said guidechannels and slide said part outwardly therefrom in a substantiallytangential relationship relative to the periphery of the applicatorrotor.
 17. In an article handling and packaging machine a combination ofan applicator rotor; said applicator rotor having a peripheral portionprovided with part holders thereon; a magazine having an outlet disposedadjacent to said peripheral portion of said applicator rotor, saidmagazine adapted to hold parts therein adjacent to said outlet; meansfor moving parts in said magazine in adjacent relationship to each otherand towards said outlet; part feed mechanism adapted to feed parts fromsaid magazine toward said peripheral area of said rotor for engagementthereon; a compression roller is disposed adjacent said magazine andsaid peripheral area of said applicator rotor whereby parts projectedfrom said magazine on said holders on the peripheral area of saidapplicator rotor are passed between the periphery of said applicatorrotor and said compression roller so that the parts are firmly pressedon the holders on the peripheral area of said applicator rotor.
 18. Inan article handling and packaging machine a combination of an applicatorrotor; said applicator rotor having a peripheral portion provided withpart holders thereon; a magazine having an outlet disposed adjacent tosaid peripheral portion of sad applicator rotor, said magazine adaptedto hold parts therein adjacent to said outlet; means for moving parts insaid magazine in adjacent relationship to each other and towards saidoutlet; part feed mechanism adapted to feed parts from said magazinetoward said peripheral area of said rotor for engagement thereon;elec-trical switch means is operated in synchronism with saidapplica-tor rotor, said part feed mechanism being energized by saidswitch means.
 19. In an article handling and packaging machine, thecombination of: an applicator rotor; said applicator rotor having aperipheral portion provided with part holders thereon; a magazine havingan outlet disposed adjacent to said peripheral portion of saidapplicator rotor, said magazine adapted to hold part therein adjacent tosaid outlets; means for moving parts in said magazine in adjacentrelationship to each other and towards said outlet; part feed mechanismadapted to feed parts from said magazine toward said peripheral area ofsaid rotor for engagement thereon; electrical switch means is operatedin synchronism with said applicator rotor, said part feed mechanismbeing energized by said switch means; operating mechanism switch meanscomprising a plurality of concentric rows of cams; said swich meansbeing operable in engagement with the cams of anyone of said rows; meansfor mounting said switch means to move radially relative to said rows ofcams for alignment with anyone of said rows of cams; whereby said partsmay be placed on said holders of said applicator rotor as variouspositions; said parts being packaging clips and thereby adapted to beplaced on said peripheral area of said applicator rotor and said holdersin positions to package pluralities of containers wherein differentpackages contain different numbers of containers.
 20. The invention asdefined in Claim 6 wherein; said magazine and part feed mechanism aremoveably mounted on said frame to move toward and away from saidapplicator rotor.
 21. In an article handling and packaging machine, acombination of: an applicator rotor: said applicator rotor having aperipheral portion provided with part holders thereon; a magazine havingan outlet disposed adjacent to said peripheral portion of saidapplicator rotor, said magazine adapted to hold parts therein adjacentto said outlet; means for moving parts in said magazine in adjacentrelationship to each other and towards said outlet; part feed mechanismadapted to feed parts from said magazine towards said peripheral area ofsaid rotor for engagement thereon; said magazine is provided with aplurality of helicAl feed screws having shaft portions; bearingsresiliently mounting said shaft portions on opposite sides of saidmagazine so that said screws may deflect laterally relative to saidmagazine; peripheral portions of said screws projecting through saidmagazine and engageable with opposite edges of parts in said magazine;and means for rotatably driving said screws in synchronized relationwith each other so that they may advance parts in said magazine to acontiguous stacked relationship therein whereupon said screws andresilient mountings of said bearings permits the screws to movelaterally relative to opposite edges of said parts and to slip thereoverwhen the parts are contiguous to each other and the magazine is filledtherewith.